Looking for a UK watchmaker

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Were I Chris, right now I would be saying 'told you so, told you so' but clearly I am not and he is a bigger than that. 😉
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I know you have a few recommendations, I would also like to say that I have used Simon Freese and was very happy with his work...
bonus for me was that I used to live a few minutes from his workshop so visited him in person on a few occasions and he is a true gentleman.
One other person I would not hesitate to recommend is Richard Askham who is in Yorkshire, he has also serviced a few watches for me and again, I was very happy with the shipping process, communication and importantly, his work.

Edit to add link : http://thewatchspotblog.com/
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I know you have a few recommendations, I would also like to say that I have used Simon Freese and was very happy with his work...
bonus for me was that I used to live a few minutes from his workshop so visited him in person on a few occasions and he is a true gentleman.
One other person I would not hesitate to recommend is Richard Askham who is in Yorkshire, he has also serviced a few watches for me and again, I was very happy with the shipping process, communication and importantly, his work.

Edit to add link : http://thewatchspotblog.com/

Richard has serviced several of my watches. I'm not a watch technician so I can't make technical judgements, but from my layman's standpoint it seems to me his work is excellent and his prices are very fair. He's also very easy to get on with. Unfortunately he is no longer accepting Omegas for servicing because of the difficulties he now faces in procuring spare parts. This might be something of a simplification but that's the gist of it.

I think there’s a middle ground somewhere. Sure if you have a vintage £5k vintage speedy then a few hundred on a service feels reasonable. For my 1970s Sporto that’s worth £350, then quotes for £270 for a basic service seemed disproportionate.

This is also my view. I would love to have Simon Freese service all my watches because of his outstanding reputation. Unfortunately, even if he had the capacity to take on my modest collection of about 15 watches, I just can't afford it. But I can still get the job done more than adequately, even if perhaps not quite so close to perfection.
 
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Were I Chris, right now I would be saying 'told you so, told you so' but clearly I am not and he is a bigger than than that. 😉

. Its like Chris felt something in his watchmakers water, telling him that Michael's retirement was imminent. Truly uncanny.
 
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. Its like Chris felt something in his watchmakers water, telling him that Michael's retirement was imminent. Truly uncanny.
It may actually be that Michael read Chris's well reasoned argument why he should be charging more, had an epiphany and 'sod this for a game of soldiers, I'm jacking it all in: I'll let the boy tinker with clocks'.
 
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Were I Chris, right now I would be saying 'told you so, told you so' but clearly I am not and he is a bigger than than that. 😉
Oh, I can be incredibly petty when I want to be. Just ask my wife!

Anyway, as I seem to be able to see one day into the future at the moment, I predict a 3-1 victory for England tonight...😉

It may actually be that Michael read Chris's well reasoned argument why he should be charging more, had an epiphany and 'sod this for a game of soldiers, I'm jacking it all in: I'll let the boy tinker with clocks'.
😁😁

Cheers, Chris
 
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Oh, I can be incredibly petty when I want to be. Just ask my wife!

Anyway, as I seem to be able to see one day into the future at the moment, I predict a 3-1 victory for England tonight...😉


😁😁

Cheers, Chris
Hope your foresight is correct !!
 
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And if you get the score right we might lose another watchmaker to full time sports betting …
 
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STS were really expensive when I got a quote recently.

My Zenith Sporto is with Michael Swift up in Scotland at the moment. He came well recommended and is well priced. I’ll share a personal view when I get it back.
Just looked up Michael....unfortunately now retired. Many more recommendations here to follow though; thank you all.😀
 
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Back from Michael Swift a few days ago. It will be my last piece serviced by Michael and I am sorry to see him retire. He isn't a man of many words but when I asked him what I thought of the quality of Cyma from a watch makers perspective he told me that "Cyma and Certina are very good, they make watches the way I would have made them".